Earrings from the Sassanid Empire, 224-651 AD. Gold, pearls and semi-precious stones. Found in modern day Iran, currently on display in the Museum of Antiquities, Leiden. The Sassanid Empire, known to natives as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian, succeeded the Parthian Empire. (Source: Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden.